Thursday: Preparation for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Revised Common Lectionary Proper 17Roman Catholic Proper 22

Complementary Hebrew Scripture: Jeremiah 14:13-18

Then I said: “Ah, Lord GOD! Here are the prophets saying to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place.’” And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them, and who say, “Sword and famine shall not come on this land”: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword. There shall be no one to bury them—themselves, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their wickedness upon them.

You shall say to them this word:Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter—my people— is struck down with a crushing blow, with a very grievous wound.If I go out into the field, look— those killed by the sword!And if I enter the city, look— those sick with famine!For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land, and have no knowledge.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture:Exodus 2:23-24

After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Complementary Psalm 26:1-8

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.

Semi-continuous Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.

Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.

And the Lord made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes, whose hearts he then turned to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.

He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen.

Praise the Lord!

New Testament Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:1-6

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.

Year A Ordinary 22, RCL Proper 17, Catholic Proper 22 Thursday

Bible verses from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved.